Imaging of congenital esophageal cysts in adults

The radiologic imaging of esophageal cysts (EC) in adults is described. These rare cysts, often detected incidentally on routine chest radiographs, seldom produce symptoms, but they may cause precordial sensations, arrhythmias, and dysphagia. They may also bleed and become malignant. As surgical excision is the treatment of choice, the preoperative diagnosis must be exact. For this, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or endoscopic ultrasound seem to be the imaging methods of choice even if a plausible diagnosis can be advanced on computed tomography (CT). Chest x-ray or esophagus roentgenogram have little differential diagnostic value.